Device for setting the intervening space between a bottom roller and a top roller of a roller assembly

ABSTRACT

Device for setting the intervening space between a fluted bottom roller and a fluted top roller rotatably supported by a pair of roller stands by way of respective bearings. Each bearing supporting the top roller is disposed in a housing being held by one of the roller stands in slidable condition toward the bottom roller, a stopper secured to each roller stand restricts the displacement of the housing toward the bottom roller. Each housing is provided with a regular square or polygonal transverse cross section and the distances between the longitudinal axis of the housing and the surfaces of abutments formed on the longitudinal surfaces of the housing are different from each other so that the above-mentioned intervening space can be changed by changing the abutment which contacts the stopper.

United States Patent [191 Katoh et al.

[ Nov. 11, 1975 [54] DEVICE FOR SETTING THE INTERVENING SPACE BETWEEN ABOTTOM ROLLER AND A TOP ROLLER OF A ROLLER ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors:Takashi Katoh; Yoshiaki Yamaoka,

both of Kariya, Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda JidoshokkiSeisakusho, Kariya, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:425,932

[52] US. Cl 19/260; 19/295 [51] Int. Cl. D01I-l 5/74 [58] Field ofSearch 19/260, 261, 258, 295, 19/294 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 460,083 9/1891 Dunh'am et al. 19/260 2,621,372 12/1952 Wilkie19/294 X 2,944,301 7/]960 Blalock 19/294 Primary E.\aminerD0rsey Newton[5 7] ABSTRACT Device for setting the intervening space between a flutedbottom roller and a fluted top roller rotatably supported by a pair ofroller stands by way of respective bearings. Each bearing supporting thetop roller is disposed in a housing being held by one of the rollerstands in slidable condition toward the bottom roller, a stopper securedto each roller stand restricts the displacement of the housing towardthe bottom roller. Each housing is provided with a regular square orpolygonal transverse cross section and the distances between thelongitudinal axis of the housing and the surfaces of abutments formed onthe longitudinal surfaces of the housing are different from each otherso that the above-mentioned intervening space can be changed by changingthe abutment which contacts the stopper.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent N0v.11, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,918,128

Fig. Fig. 2

PRIOR ART PRIOR ART ll 9)) 5 9 US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 2 of23,918,128

DEVICE FOR SETTING THE INTERVENING SPACE BETWEEN A BOTTOM ROLLER AND ATOP ROLLER OF A ROLLER ASSEMBLY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to a device for setting an intervening space between afluted bottom roller and a fluted top roller of a roller assembly suchas a calender roller of a card or a draft mechanism, for impartingmechanical crimps to individual fibers of silver after the silver iscondensed by a trumpet.

Generally, speaking, as cotton fiber has so-called natural convolutionsor twists and, on the other hand, artificial fibers such as rayon fibersor synthetic fibers are provided with artificial twists, these fibershave a potential property of shrinking longitudinally between the twoends of each individual fiber along the sliver axis while the sliver isbeing transported to the subsequent process after the individual fibersare straightened by a carding or drafting operation. Furhter, whenprocessing a fiber material which has a low coefficient of friction, thefibers easily slip against each other and, consequently, the slivercomposed of the fibers is often separated or the sliver is easilyelongated. The abovementioned undesirable conditions become more andmore pronounced as the transportation speed of the sliver is increased.To prevent these troubles, a pair of fluted rollers are utilized as thetop and bottom rollers of a roller assembly or a pair of rollerassemblies, such as a draft mechanism. As these fluted rollers or flutedcalender rollers are provided with a plurality of grooves formed ontheir peripheral surfaces in parallel with the longitudinal axesthereof, when the sliver is passed through the nip of these rollers,suitable crimps can be imparted to the individual fibers of the sliver.Consequently, the above-mentioned trouble caused by undesirable slippagebetween fibers can be effectively prevented. However, as there is alarge variation in the natural convolution of the cotton fibers orartificial twists of man-made fibers, it is necessary to change theshape of the fiber crimps in accordance with the kind of fiber beingprocessed.

To change the shape of the fiber crimps, the following method foradjusting the intervening space between the fluted top roller and thefluted bottom roller has been applied. In this method, the interveningspace be tween the top roller and the bottom roller is fixed by a thingauge plate displaceably disposed between an abutment surface of ahousing holding a bearing for rotatably supporting a top roller and astopper secured to each roller stand for restricting downwarddisplacement of the top roller toward the bottom roller which isrotatably supported by the roller stands. Therefore, the above-mentionedintervening space can be adjusted by changing the gauge plate to onehaving a different predetermined thickness. However, it is naturallynecessary to prepare several gauge plates having different thicknessesfor each roller assembly and, consequently, the above-mentioned methodis very troublesome in practice.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a noveldevice for adjusting the intervening space between a fluted top rollerand a fluted bottom roller of a roller assembly by which theabovementioned drawbacks can be satisfactorily eliminated.

In the apparatus of the present invention, the device for adjusting anintervening space between a fluted top roller and a fluted bottomroller, supported by a pair of roller stands, comprises: a pair ofhousings, each housing holding a bearing which rotatably supports oneend portion of a boss of the top roller; a supporting means forsupporting each of the housings in slidable condition toward the bottomroller, and; a stopper secured to each of the roller stands at aposition below the supporting means. The downward displacement of thetop roller within the supporting means is restricted by the engagementof the bottom surface of the housing with the stopper and apredetermined intervening space between the top roller and the bottomroller can be set when the mechanism for loading the top roller urgesthe top roller toward the bottom roller. The supporting means comprisesa pair of vertical guide walls projected inside from each roller stand.The lateral crosssection of each housing is perpendicular to the rolleraxis of the top roller and is a regular square of polygon and thedistance between the opposite edges thereof is so selected as to beidentical to the distance between the vertical guide walls of thesupporting mechanism. At the position of each longitudinal surfacefacing the stopper, an abutment is provided. In a typical embodiment ofthe present invention, the above-mentioned abutment is formed by a gaugeplate secured to the longitudinal surface. That is, the same number ofgauge plates as the number of longitudinal surfaces are secured to thehousing. These gauge plates have different thicknesses. Consequently,the above-mentioned intervening space between the top roller and thebottom roller can be easily adjusted by selecting a particular gaugeplate secured to the longitudinal surface of the housing, in cooperationwith the loading mechanism.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of aconventional device for adjusting the intervening space between a flutedtop roller and a fluted bottom roller of a roller assembly;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a device for adjusting theintervening spacebetween a fluted top roller and a fluted bottom rollerof a pair of roller assemblies according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of a mechanism for loading aroller assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the housing illustrated inFIG. 4 modified by providing indentations in place of the gauge platesof FIG. 4.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION For the purpose of clarification,before describing the detailed composition of the present invention, theconventional device for adjusting the intervening space between a toproller and a bottom roller of a roller assembly is briefly explained.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the above-mentioned conventional device,an end portion of a boss of a bottom roller 3 is rotatably supported bya bearing 4 which is mounted on a roller stand 1; a horizontal stopper 7is projected inside from the roller stand 1, and; a pair of verticalguide projections 5 and 6 are rigidly secured to the roller stand 1 soas to form a pair of guide walls which receive a housing 9 having asquare lateral cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis X-X ofthe top roller 11. An end portion of a top roller 11 is rotatablysupported by a bearing 12 which is mounted in the housing 9. The housing9 is closely engaged to the side walls and 6 in such a condition that abottom surface of the housing 9 contacts an upward projection formed atan end of a horizontal projection via at least one gauge plate 13.Therefore, the above-mentioned intervening space is set by adjusting thethickness of the gauge plate(s) 13 so as to adjust the creation ofcrimps on the individual fibers. However, in the above-mentioned device,as one or more gauge plate(s) 13 must be stocked, it is troublesome toprepare them for adjusting the intervening space between the top rollerand the bottom roller,

The present invention was created so as to solve the above-mentioneddrawback of the conventional device. The detailed construction andfunction of the device according to the present invention is hereinafterexplained in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a roller stand 1 is provided with anaperture 2 for holding a bearing 4 which rotatably supports an endportion of a fluted bottom roller 3. The roller stand 1 is furtherprovided with a horizontal projection 7 projected towards the top roller11 and a pair of vertical projections 5 and 6 projected towards thebottom roller 3 in parallel with each other so as to form a pair ofvertical guide walls. The horizontal projection 7 is extended outsidethe vertical projections 5 and 6 and this extended portion is formed asa stepped end portion 7a which is projected upwards so as to provide anabutment 7b formed on the stepped end portion 7a. The verticalprojections 5 and 6 provide an intervening space 8 therebetween whichpermits a housing 9 to be slidably held therein. The housing 9 isprovided with a horizontal aperture 10 for holding a bearing 12 whichrotatably supports an end portion of a boss of a top roller 11. Thehousing 9 is provided with a square lateral cross section, which isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis YY of the top roller 11. And thedistance between the opposite edges of the lateral cross section, ispredetermined so as to be substantially identical to the above-mentioneddistance between the vertical guide projections 5 and 6, such that anypair of the longitudinal surfaces of the housing can be slidably held bythe guide projectionsS and 6. Gauge plates 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d aresecured to the longitudinal surfaces 9a, 90, 9b and 9d respectively atlocations corresponding to the abutment 7b of the step 7a. The thicknessof these gauge plates 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d are different from eachother and so designed that, when the housing 9 holding the top roller 11is inserted into the space 8, the intervening distance between the toproller 11 and the bottom roller 3 becomes a predetermined suitabledistance for use with the textile fiber which is to be processed.Therefore, in this embodiment, the intervening space between the toproller 11 and the bottom roller 3 can be changed to any one of fourdifferent distances. When the intervening space between the bottom andtop rollers 3 and 11 is to he set at a desired value, a pair of housings9 are required for insertion into the respective spaces 8 at both endportions of the top roller 11. These two housings 9 are inserted intothe spaces 8 in such a way that identical surfaces 9a, 9b, 9c or 9d areselectively used.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, as a roller assembly, a draftmechanism which comprises a front top roller 110, front bottom roller3a, and a back top roller 11b and a back bottom roller 3b, is utilized.To simplify the explanation, only one of the loading mechanisms isexplained hereinafter. In this embodiment, a

supporting arm 17 is pivotably mounted to a frame 15 by a pin 16 and apair of suddles 18a, 18b are secured to the supporting arm 17 atrespective positions facing the corresponding top rollers 11a, 11b.Loading pins 190 and 19b are slidably mounted in the respective apertures formed at the top portions of the respective suddles 18a, 1817.These pins 19a, 1% are provided with abutment pieces 20a, 20b secured tothe bottom end portion thereof and helical springs 21a, 21b are mountedon the pins 19a, 1% at portions between the i inside top walls of thesuddles 18 a, 18b and the abutment pieces 20a, 20b in compressedcondition respectively.

A pin 23 is secured to a free end portion of the suptoward theirengageable directions. When the hook 27 j of the lock lever 26 holds thepin 22, the top rollers 1 1a, 1 1b are urged toward the respectivebottom rollers.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a trumpet shaped sliver guide 28 ismounted to the frame 15 as shown in FIG. 5, so as to lead the sliverinto the draft mechanism wherein the intervening spaces between thefluted top roller 11a and the fluted bottom roller 3a, top roller 11band the bottom roller 3b, are set by the guide plates 13a, 13b, 13c or13d.

When a change in the intervening space between the top roller and thebottom roller is required, first, the engagement of the hook 27 of thelock lever 26 with the pin 23 is released and, next, the supportinglever 17 is turned about the pin 16 so as to free the top rollers 11a,11b from the loading mechanism. Then the disposition of the housings 9of each of the top rollers 11a, 11b are changed to the preferredcondition. After the above-mentioned operation, the supporting lever 17is again turned toward the engagement condition of the hook 27 of thelock lever 26 with the pin 23.

It will now be apparent that with the present invention the interveningspace between the top rollers and the respective bottom rollers can beeasily and precise-. ley adjusted in the simple manner which has beende-.

scribed above.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the lateral cross section of thehousing 9 is square. However, a. housing having regular polygonal crosssections can be utilized for the present invention if a relationship tothe abutment surface 7b of the step 7a that is similar to the,

above-mentioned embodiment can be satisfied.

It is also possible that, instead of applying the engage ment of thegauge plates 13a, 13b, or 13d with the abutment surface 712 of theupward projection 7a, re-

cesses 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d, as shown in the modifica-- tion of FIG. 6,having different depths which correspond to the above-mentionedthicknesses of the gauge plates 13a, 13b, 13c and 1311, are formed onthe longitudinal surfaces 90, 9b, 9c and 9d at the positions facing theabutment surface 7b of the upward projection 7a. Based on our mill testof such a construction, a similar result to that of the above-mentionedembodiment can be attained.

For convenience, in actual practice it is advisable to paint the gaugeplates different colors so that it is very easy to identify the desiredsurface of the housing 9.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the device for adjusting theintervening space between a top roller and a bottom roller is applied toa draft mechanism provided with two pair of roller assemblies, eachcomprising a top roller and a bottom roller. However, this device can besatisfactorily applied to a roller assembly comprising a fluted top rolland a fluted bottom roll, such as a calender roll of a carding machine.

What is claimed is:

1. In a roller assembly of a spinning machine comprising at least-acombination of a fluted bottom roller rotatably supported by a pair ofroller stands and a top fluted roller spaced and disposed above saidbottom roller with a predetermined very small intervening space betweensaid rollers, and a loading mechanism for urging said top roller towardsaid bottom roller, a device for setting said intervening space incooperation with said loading mechanism comprising, a pair of housings,each housing holding a bearing which rotatably supports one end portionboss of said top roller, means for supporting each of said housings inslidable condition toward said bottom roller at an inside position ofeach roller stand above said bottom roller, a stopper secured to each ofsaid roller stands at an inside position below said supporting means,the extent of the sliding motion of said housing toward said bottomroller being defined by said stopper, intervening gage means havingengaging surfaces provided on each of a plurality of longitudinalsurfaces of said housing substantially along a longitudinal axis of saidtop roller and arranged to selectively contact said stopper, whichengagement results in the establishment of an intervening space betweensaid top roller and said bottom roller, the distances between each ofsaid engaging surfaces of said gage means and said longitudinal axis ofthe top roller being respectively different in predetermined amount,whereby said intervening space between said top roller and said bottomroller can be easily changed by engaging said gage means of a desiredlongitudinal surface of said housing with said stopper under pressurecreated by said loading means.

2. A device for setting an intervening space between a top roller and abottom roller of a roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidsupporting means comprises a pair of vertical guide members projectedinside from each of said roller stands in parallel condition to eachother, each of said housings provided with a regular square or polygonallateral cross section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the toproller, providing pairs of parallel longitudinal surfaces, theintervening distance between said vertical guide members being identicalto the intervening distance between each of said pairs of parallellongitudinal surfaces of said housing with respect to said longitudinalaxis of said top roller.

3. A device for setting an intervening space between a top roller and abottom roller of a roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidstopper is provided with an upward projection, said gage means providedon each of said plurality of longitudinal surfaces of said housing isformed as a gauge plate secured on the respective longitudinal surfaceof said housing at a position facing said upward projection of saidstopper, and said gauge plates have predetermined thicknesses differentfrom each other.

4. A device for setting an intervening space between a top roller and abottom roller of a roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidstopper is provided with an upward projection, said gage means providedon each of said plurality of longitudinal surfaces of said housing isformed by providing a recessed surface formed on the respectivelongitudinal surface of said housing at a position facing said upwardprojection of said stopper, and the depths of said recessed surfacesfrom said longitudinal surfaces of said housing being different fromeach other.

5. A device for setting an intervening space between a top and a bottomroller of a roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housingis provided with a square lateral cross section perpendicular to saidlongitudinal axis of the top roller.

1. In a roller assembly of a spinning machine comprising at least acombination of a fluted bottom roller rotatably supported by a pair ofroller stands and a top fluted roller spaced and disposed above saidbottom roller with a predetermined very small intervening space betweensaid rollers, and a loading mechanism for urging said top roller towardsaid bottom roller, a device for setting said intervening space incooperation with said loading mechanism comprising, a pair of housings,each housing holding a bearing which rotatably supports one end portionboss of said top roller, means for supporting each of said housings inslidable condition toward said bottom roller at an inside position ofeach roller stand above said bottom roller, a stopper secured to each ofsaid roller stands at an inside position below said supporting means,the extent of the sliding motion of said housing toward said bottomroller being defined by said stopper, intervening gage means havingengaging surfaces provided on each of a plurality of longitudinalsurfaces of said housing substantially along a longitudinal axis of saidtop roller and arranged to selectively contact said stopper, whichengagement results in the establishment of an intervening space betweensaid top roller and said bottom roller, the distances between each ofsaid engaging surfaces of said gage means and said longitudinal axis ofthe top roller being respectively different in predetermined amount,whereby said intervening space between said top roller and said bottomroller can be easily changed by engaging said gage means of a desiredlongitudinal surface of said housing with said stopper under pressurecreated by said loading means.
 2. A device for setting an interveningspace between a top roller and a bottom roller of a roller assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said supporting means comprises a pair ofvertical guide members projected inside from each of said roller standsin parallel condition to each other, each of said housings provided witha regular square or polygonal lateral cross section perpendicular tosaid longitudinal axis of the top roller, providing pairs of parallellongitudinal surfaces, the intervening distance between said verticalguide members being identical to the intervening distance between eachof said pairs of parallel longitudinal surfaces of said housing withrespect to said longitudinal axis of said top roller.
 3. A device forsetting an intervening space between a top roller and a bottom roller ofa roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein said stopper is providedwith an upward projection, said gage means provided on each of saidplurality of longitudinal surfaces of said housing is formed as a gaugeplate secured on the respective longitudinal surface of said housing ata position facing said upward projection of said stopper, and said gaugeplates have predetermined thicknesses different from each other.
 4. Adevice for setting an intervening space between a top roller and abottom roller of a roller assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidstopper is provided with an upward projection, said gage means providedon each of said plurality of longitudinal surfaces of said housing isformed by providing a recessed surface formed on the respectivelongitudinal surface of said housing at a position facing said upwardprojection of said stopper, and the depths of said recessed surfacesfrom said longitudinal surfaces of said housing being different fromeach other.
 5. A device for setting an intervening space between a topand a bottom roller of a roller assembly according to claim 1, whereinsaid housing is provided with a square lateral cross sectionperpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the top roller.